How did Giovanni Papini interpret William James's pragmatism in Italy?

Giovanni Papini interpreted William James’s pragmatism primarily through the lens of James’s essay "The Will to Believe," transforming it into a theory centered on the "will to action."1

Leading the "magical" school of pragmatism alongside Giuseppe Prezzolini, Papini argued that through passion and creative power in action, humans could achieve a form of divinity. This romanticized exaltation of action was intended to seek "divinely creative" power, a perspective that appealed to artists but also attracted fanatics.1

While James viewed Papini as a brilliant and witty writer, their philosophical interpretations diverged significantly. Papini’s focus on radical, creative action stood in contrast to the "logical" school of Italian pragmatism led by Giovanni Vailati and Mario Calderoni, who were instead inspired by Charles Sanders Peirce.1